Arkane Discussion

Exodus 37:1-9

Really short section without much new. If you recall, we earlier discussed detail about the construction of the ark. If you don't recall, you can find it here: http://chiphall.blogspot.com/2007/10/real-reason-jesus-became-carpenter.html

So, it seems that Bezalel took on the task of building the ark to God's specifications. The end.

Almost. So, he builds these poles to carry the ark... but I wonder at what point these poles became necessary for carrying it. Bezalel obviously had to touch the ark to build it... at some point this will become off-limits. But how does that happen- and how does he know?

More interestingly, how does that change affect Bezalel? An artist would surely feel some sense of ownership for the art he created. When a composer hears her song on the radio- there's a sense of pride that comes with it. When a playwright sees his play performed- he still feels a part of the process, even if he wasn't directly involved with that specific production.

What would it be like for Belazel to have worked so hard and created this beautiful artifice and do it with the spirit of worship only to know that once it's done- you've got to keep your hands off? Maybe the lesson is to understand what it means to truly turn things over to God- to release them- to let them go.

Once you've invested time, money, energy, love, and/or sweat- if it's really not for you... maybe it's ok to not have ownership any more. Maybe, as difficult as it may be, it isn't until we've released it, when we've agreed to keep our hands off, that it's really a gift for God and not just a gift from God.